rhiannon777

Unfortunately, the tests for HPV in men aren't all that great yet, but it's worth asking your doctor if there's any way to tell for sure if it's been cleared from your system.

To tell you the truth, you'd get as many answers about the best way to handle this as there are doctors. Some would tell you that if you haven't any warts or other symptoms in a certain number of months, then you are considered clean and wouldn't have to tell future partners. Others would tell you that HPV will be with you for life and you must tell all future partners. Dr. Hunter Handsfield has a lot of good info on the internet, if you search for his name and HPV.

The very best practice, of course, would be to inform all future partners that you have been diagnosed with HPV in the past and that, while many people can clear HPV from their systems, there's no way to tell for sure. It's always a good idea to use condoms and ensure that your female partners get yearly Pap smears.

I assume, since you are male, that you know you have HPV because you have had genital warts. Fortunately, the strain of HPV that causes genital warts doesn't really do anything else to you...it's more of a cosmetic annoyance than anything else. So it's not something to worry about in the sense of long-term consequences for your health. Something like 75% of people have HPV at one time or another. I would still inform all future partners though, so that they can make an informed decision. Good luck!